night shots?

Question

Hello

Can anybody advise me on how to take nightime photos with a canon sri3
I tooka few while on holiday and they came out realy dar

even with the flash theydidnt
look as good as I thought they would

Answer 1

First, does your camera allow you to (manually) set long exposures? Second, if it doesn't, does it have a B or T setting on the shutter speed dial? Third, does it accept a threaded mechanical cable release?

If you answered "Yes" to the first question you can probaly ignore the next two. If you answered "No" to the first, the answer to the second and third must be "Yes". *

I have used the "Day & Night Exposure Guide" from FotoSharp for a long time (fotosharp.com). Here is but one example they give. If you are into night and/or low light photography you should add this to your "Buy List".

CITY SKYLINE IN DISTANCE:

ISO 100 @ f4 @ 8 seconds
ISO 100 @ f5.6 @ 15 seconds
ISO 100 @ f8 @ 30 seconds

ISO 200 @ f4 @ 4 seconds
ISO 200 @ f5.6 @ 8 seconds
ISO 200 @ f8 @ 15 seconds

ISO 400 @ f4 @ 2 seconds
ISO 400 @ f5.6 @ 4 seconds
ISO 400 @ f8 @ 8 seconds

Of course you'll need a tripod for any of these exposures.

A neat trick is to use a zoom lens, perhaps a 70-210mm and begin the exposure at 70mm. Then very carefully and slowly zoom in to 210mm during the course of the exposure. The buildings will appear to be "rushing" at you.

I've also mounted my tripod in the front seat of my car and, using a 28mm lens focused at infinity (and as close to the windshield as possible), a camera with a motor drive, and a long cable release, driven in night time traffic using a 15 second exposure at f8 and an ISO of 200.

The settings shown also work well with moving traffic. Find a vantage point overlooking a busy highway with the city in the background and away from extraneous lights. The headlights will be long white streaks; taillights will be long red streaks - and the city skyline will be crisp.

* If your camera can also use an "electronic" cable release DO NOT use it. When the electrical contact is made the shutter closes. Period. It will not hold the shutter open. You have to use a mechanical, plunger-type cable release so you can hold the shutter open as long as needed.

Answer 2

If your camera has a night function (looks like a moon and star) use that. Otherwise you will have to use a longer exposure (to let more light in). The only problem with that is you will need a tripod to keep the camera steady otherwise it'll just be a blurry mess! Flashes only work within a certain distance something like 10ft so if the object of the photo is further away it wont be illuminiated. Read your cameras manual and practice. Night shots can be fantastic. Good luck!

Answer 3

Th secret is a long exposure, this probably means a tripod or other steady base for your camera. Also a cable release or use the self-timer.
You should set the aperture for the depth of focus that you want, and the exposure to match this, it will be long, possibly several seconds or longer. If you set the aperture wide open then your depth of focus will be small.
If you dont unerstand this, then follow the other advice and hope that the camera is more intelligent and will sort it out for you.
The flash is only for distances of about 15ft.
Read your manual
Please email me for more help.

Answer 4

Turn up the ISO, it increases picture grain, but makes the images a lot lighter and less blurred.

Answer 5

canon has two night settings
one is in the scene mode
the other on the mode dial

Answer 6

you need a camera with a high appiture. This means that it will let loads of light in! I think any way